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May 29, 2024
Local prosecutor drops all criminal charges against No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler
I noted in my post here two weeks ago after World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler was arrested during a traffic misunderstanding that I was puzzled he was charged with four criminal offenses, including the serious felony charge of second-degree assault. Today, a local prosecutor dropped all these charges, stating in court the evidence from the enounter did "not satisfy the elements of any criminal offenses." Here are more details from this ESPN piece:
Criminal charges have been dropped against world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler after the Jefferson County Attorney's Office in Louisville, Kentucky, said it would not pursue the case that stemmed from a traffic incident outside the PGA Championship earlier this month.
Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell asked for the charges to be dismissed with prejudice -- meaning they can't be filed again in the future -- during a court hearing Wednesday.
"Based upon the totality of the evidence, my office cannot move forward in the prosecution of the charges filed against Mr. Scheffler," O'Connell said. "Mr. Scheffler's characterization that this was a 'big misunderstanding' is corroborated by the evidence. The evidence we reviewed supports the conclusion that Detective [Bryan] Gillis was concerned for public safety at the scene when he initiated contact with Mr. Scheffler. However, Mr. Scheffler's actions and the evidence surrounding their exchange during this misunderstanding do not satisfy the elements of any criminal offenses."...
Scheffler's attorney, Steve Romines, had previously said his client would plead not guilty and wasn't interested in a plea deal. "I am prepared to litigate as needed and the case will be dismissed, or we will go to trial because Scottie did absolutely nothing wrong," Romines said.
Interestingly, today also brought this new story based on a new video in which "Scottie Scheffler admitted to cops 'I should have stopped' before accusing 'over-aggressive' Detective Bryan Gillis of 'hitting me with his flashlight.'"
May 29, 2024 at 01:47 PM | Permalink
Comments
As I suggested 12 days ago when it happened, the prosecutor has dropped the whole thing. It was a minor mistake by Scheffler and a bigger mistake by the Deputy. But it's all washed out. And as I also said, Scheffler is not going to bring a suit for wrongful arrest.
https://www.wsj.com/sports/golf/scottie-scheffler-criminal-charges-pga-championship-louisville-valhalla-eddd38cf?mod=djemalertNEWS
What I wrote at the time was: "My guess is no jail sentence at all, and that's if the prosecutor actually brings a case, which I will take even money right now doesn't happen. Any takers?"
Wisely, and as usual, no one took my bet.
It was a small matter to start, and turned out to be pretty much a nothingburger.
People make mistakes and wiser heads prevail -- one of the oldest stories on earth.
Posted by: Bill Otis | May 29, 2024 3:15:01 PM
The guys with the guns overreacted. That's a problem.
Posted by: federalist | May 29, 2024 7:32:31 PM
Hey, federalist,
I thought you might enjoy this article.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/michigan-man-suspended-license-logs-zoom-court-hearing-driving-rcna154585
I don't think the charges in THIS case are gonna be dropped LOL
MAGA
Posted by: MAGA 2024 | May 29, 2024 11:23:29 PM
One of the unspoken factors in the Scottie Scheffler case is that it appears that the POLICE TRAFFIC DETECTIVE (PETIT) may have lied. It appears that the golfer's car never struck the Detective, so there was no basis in fact for the felony 2nd degree assault charge. As the pole camera video and the 3 witnesses who worked for CNN said, the Detective was running after the golfer's vehicle after he advanced it forward at slow speed, towards the entrance to the Valhalla Golf Club, when he slipped and fell due to the wet pavement from the falling rain. He then got back up and caught up with the golfer's car, which had stopped. The golfer was not aware that the Detective was a police officer because he failed to identify himself as a cop, and his uniform and pistol belt were covered by his fluorescent green raincoat. The golfer says he thought the man was a security guard, not a cop. After falling and getting back up, the cop was angry and hurt. he apparently reached in the car and grabbed the golfer's shoulder and even hit him. We don't know excatly what transpired because the Detective failed to activate his body camera (which apparently was not charged and ready to be activated in any event). After the County Attorney dismissed the case in the Courtroom, a reporter asked him if the Detective had told the truth. The County Attorney responded, "I don't know.", which speaks volumes about why this case was dropped. This Detective has a bad personnel record, 4 at-fault accidents while driving police vehicles and most recently, doing doughnuts in a police cruiser in a public parking lot, with blue lights activated, with an intoxicated passenger in the cruiser, who was not under arrest. It appears this Detective made up the 2nd degree assault charge, so that he could arrest the golfer. The rest of the charges are misdemeanors and a citation offense, which under local practices since COVID-19 came in March of 2020 would not have resulted in an arrest, but just the issuance of a summons. The Detective got pissed at Scheffler and made up a charge so that he could arrest him, without realizing who he was and what the consequences might be. I predict that this Detective will soon be forced to retire from the Louisville P.D. Notably, Scheffler did not stipulate to probable cause to get the dismissal, so he might sue the Detective for false arrest and malicious prosecution, but he says there will be no lawsuit. He just wants to put these events behind him and move forward with his life as a golfer.
Posted by: Jim Gormley | May 30, 2024 8:03:38 AM
"he might sue the Detective for false arrest and malicious prosecution, but he says there will be no lawsuit. He just wants to put these events behind him and move forward with his life as a golfer."
Wise choice. No Kentucky jury is going to convict a police officer for putting his foot down when some dumbass civilian driver gets his wires crossed, at least when he has a good faith belief that thats whats happening.
"The Detective got pissed at Scheffler and made up a charge so that he could arrest him,"
That sounds like speculation. Its more like he was surprised by noncompliance and took initiative to regain control of the situation.
"without realizing who he was and what the consequences might be."
Its true a cop needs to know who the big dogs are in his jurisdiction and treat them with due respect. But this guy was a visitor. How many people besides pro golf fans ever heard of Scottie Scheffler before this incident?
Truly big dogs who travel have support staff accompanying them. among other functions they know how to liase with local law enforcement. And how to speak their language.
So this guy Scheffler drives himself to his professional appearances. Not a big dog. Call us back when you get a chauffur. Golf is a prissy sport anyway. Rugby or UFC, now there ya go.
"This Detective has a bad personnel record, 4 at-fault accidents while driving police vehicles and most recently, doing doughnuts in a police cruiser in a public parking lot, with blue lights activated, with an intoxicated passenger in the cruiser, who was not under arrest. It appears this Detective made up the 2nd degree assault charge, so that he could arrest the golfer. The rest of the charges are misdemeanors and a citation offense, which under local practices since COVID-19 came in March of 2020 would not have resulted in an arrest, but just the issuance of a summons."
How did you come by all this information? Anyway police officers should not be penalized for doing their jobs with zeal nor with enjoying a few perks that come with their all too often thankless profession.
Also all that stuff sounds way prejudicial and none of it should come in to a civil case even if it were true, which I doubt.
I hope this honorable police officer should face no further repercussions for his innocent error. But if the moonbat Breonna Taylor lovers that seem to be taking over at all levels in Louisville should succeed in scapegoating him, I know that President Trump will have a job ready for him at the Department of Homeland Security. He hires only the best people MAGA
Posted by: MAGA 2024 | May 30, 2024 3:05:32 PM
I got the information contained in my comment from reading articles in the Louisville "Courier-Journal" newspaper and other press coverage. The newspaper obtained details about Detective Gillis' transgressions as a police officer by getting a copy of his personnel file, which is readily obtainable from the Police Department under the Kentucky Open Records Act. The pole camera video and the statement of 3 eyewitnesses (CNN personnel) indicate that Det. Gillis was running after the car and eventually caught up when the golfer stopped the vehicle [which was clearly marked in multiple locations as being a tournament player courtesy car], just outside the main entrance to Valhalla Country Club. The witnesses clearly say that the golfer's car did not strike the Detective, which was the factual basis (supposedly) for the felony 2nd degree assault charge used to arrest him. The witnesses say that the Detective slipped on the wet pavement and fell while running after the car, but that is not 2nd degree assault; it might be characterized as "fleeing or evading police in a vehicle". The officer did severe damage to his credibility by not activating his body camera. It appears from what the Mayor and the police have said, that the Detective's body-worn camera was not ready to be activated, because it wasn't charged. Scottie is a humble guy, despite having recently won $3.6 million first prize at the Masters Golf Tournament. He flies in private jets, and could easily afford a chauffeur, but simple prefers to drive himself. It also appears that the Detective failed to identify himself as a police officer and his uniform and gun belt were covered by his fluorescent green rain jacket. It appears that there was no probable cause for a felony arrest here, and that the Detective may have lied to try to justify arresting Scottie Scheffler.
Posted by: Jim Gormley | May 30, 2024 3:27:40 PM
Trump convicted on all 34 counts!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”
Posted by: anon14 | May 30, 2024 5:26:03 PM
Jim,
Thanks once again for your informative comments, even if I have bones to pick with them.
"I got the information contained in my comment from reading articles in the Louisville "Courier-Journal" newspaper and other press coverage. The newspaper obtained details about Detective Gillis' transgressions as a police officer by getting a copy of his personnel file, which is readily obtainable from the Police Department under the Kentucky Open Records Act."
It sounds like the KY press is running wild. The bluegrass state should take a leaf from Governor Sanders of Arkansas book and choke off the source of this sort of irresponsible reporting.
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/16/sarah-huckabee-sanders-records-law-00116402
They know how to deal with irresponsible journalism in Marion, Kansas, too. Or did.
"The witnesses clearly say that the golfer's car did not strike the Detective, which was the factual basis (supposedly) for the felony 2nd degree assault charge used to arrest him. The witnesses say that the Detective slipped on the wet pavement and fell while running after the car, but that is not 2nd degree assault; it might be characterized as "fleeing or evading police in a vehicle"."
I think theres a good chance these witnesses are lying. They might all be racist against whites for example. Or against cops. But even if theyre telling the truth, this is like drawing a royal flush. Its unheard of for a police officer to hurt himself through his own clumsiness and then use his injuries to falsely paint a subject as his assailant. I mean thats ridiculous. First time for everything, I guess. But I'm dubious here.
"The officer did severe damage to his credibility by not activating his body camera. It appears from what the Mayor and the police have said, that the Detective's body-worn camera was not ready to be activated, because it wasn't charged."
Sounds like innocent error to me. And anyway we wouldn't need these battery hungry gizmos if we'd just take our honorable sworn police officers at their word, geez.
"Scottie is a humble guy, despite having recently won $3.6 million first prize at the Masters Golf Tournament. He flies in private jets, and could easily afford a chauffeur, but simple prefers to drive himself."
Okay that's a bit eccentric. And police are trained to recognize eccentric people because they know that those are the types that sometimes get up to no good.
OK so Scottie Scheffler wants to drive himself around. Fine. He should still hire personal security staff. I'm sure off-duty LMPD officers are available to work in this capacity. Then this never would have happened. Scheffler has millions as you point out. Why shouldn't a couple of local heroes get to wet their beaks at a reasonable rate? Say $150/hour each.
With just a smidgen of that sort of civic mindedness, this whole unfortunate event could have been avoided. Even if Detective Gillis did slip and fall on his ass, and then blow a gasket about it, a badge emerging from a passenger window would have cooled the situation instantly. Hell, if it had emerged before Scheffler entered the intersection, it wouldnt have happened at all.
Also this would show Mr. Scheffler how much he has in common with working stiffs like police officers. Hey, they all get paid to swing sticks as hard as they can LOL
"It also appears that the Detective failed to identify himself as a police officer and his uniform and gun belt were covered by his fluorescent green rain jacket."
This sounds as flimsy as a rain jacked to me. Since when as anyone ever been able to avoid consequences for disobeying a police officer under similar circumstances? This sounds like special pleading to me.
"It appears that there was no probable cause for a felony arrest here, and that the Detective may have lied to try to justify arresting Scottie Scheffler."
That sort of speculation and exactly the sort of thing a rat or lib would say to throw shade on the impeccable conduct of the LMPD and on police forces in red states generally.
MAGA
Posted by: MAGA 2024 | May 30, 2024 8:43:48 PM
Ingest some more cop shoe-polish, you cringey gang of servile bootlickers.
It was indeed false arrest by any reasonable interpretation. Police escalation, lying about "assault on a police officer," malicious "get whitey" prosecutors.
Lap it up, gang.
Posted by: Zeke308 | Jun 5, 2024 6:18:45 AM
PS -- this Barney Fife "detective" had his bodycam deactivated as well. Just the cherry on the sundae.
Posted by: Zeke308 | Jun 5, 2024 6:42:14 AM
